Dounas Costas

by / Thursday, 13 November 2014 / Published in people
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Position: Research Director

Contact Info

Institute: Biology & Genetics
Address: HCMR, Gournes Pediados P.O.Box 2214, Irakleion 71003, Crete, Greece
Email:kdounas@hcmr.gr
Tel: +302810337814
Telex:
Website:

 

Dr Costas Dounas is a Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology & Genetics in Crete (HCMR).

Dr Dounas completed his doctoral training in Marine Biology at the Biology Department of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. His thesis work focused on the benthic bionomy and pollution of Strymonikos Gulf (North Aegean Sea).

Since 2002 he has been working as a Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology & Genetics (IMBG) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). He has been member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the IMBC (1995 – 2002) and of the IMBG (2002-to date). He has also been a member of the National Advisory Board of Research & Technology (2001-2004) and of the Scientific Committee of Technology Transfer and Innovation of the National Advisory Board of Research & Technology (2002-2004). He has been the project co-ordinator or scientific responsible of numerous European and National R&D projects. He is the author of more than 60 international scientific publications, the inventor of 5 Greek, European and international patents and he has been awarded by the Ministry of Development (2002).

Since 2004, he has the idea to promote, organize and implement an intensive program for the creation of a network of underwater diving parks with artificial reefs along the Cretan coasts. The main purpose is to provide new hard substrate habitats for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, fishing grounds for anglers and special designed underwater structures for scuba divers and snorkelers. A first project has been undertaken in a coastal area of 35,000 m2 in depths from 15 to 40 m2 located very close to the city of Agios Nikolaos. Another project has led to the acquisition from the Greek State of a 25,000 m2 coastal marine area, for the development of an Underwater Biotechnological Lab (UBL), which is to both test and demonstrate innovative artificial habitats of key species (e.g. sponges and bryozoans), as well as other marine technologies.

Education profile
1986: PhD in Marine Biology, Biology Department, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki
1978: BSc in Biology, Biology Department, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki

Professional profile
2002-to date: Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology & Genetics (IMBG)-Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR)
2001-2002: Research Director at the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC)
1995-2001: Senior Researcher at the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC)
1987-1995: Post-doctorate researcher at the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC)
1986 -1987: Post-doctorate researcher at the Research Centre of Crete – Institute of Molecular Biology.

Honours
2004-2005: Member of the International Advisory Board of Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Claipeda University, Lithuania
2001-2004: Member of the Greek National Committee of Technology Transfer & Innovation
2002: Distinction award in the 1st Greek National Patent Contest by the Greek Ministry of Development and the Greek Industrial Organisation.
1999-2004: Member of the Greek National Council of Research and Development

Member in Scientific Committees-Societies
1991-2002: Environmental Committee of Heraklion Prefecture
1997: Evaluation Committee of European Projects EU INCO –COPERNICUS
1986-1996: Crustacean Society
1987-1988: Hellenic Zoological Society (Member of the Board)
1984-1985: Hellenic Society of Ecologists (President of the Board)

Research interests
Marine Biodiversity (Crustacea, Sponges), Structure and dynamics of macrobenthic and benthopelagic assemblages, Marine pollution monitoring, Water Quality, Environmental impact assessment, Coastal zone management, Marine protected zones, Fishing gear effects, Biology, Taxonomy, Ecology and Zoogeography of Mediterranean Crustacea and Polychaeta, Marine Environmental Technology and innovation, Artificial reef research and applications.

1. TRIANTAFYLLOU G., PETIHAKIS G., DOUNAS C. & A. THEODOROU, 2001. Assessing marine ecosystem response to nutrient inputs. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 43 (7-12): 175-186.
2. POLLANI A., TRIANTAFYLLOU G., PETIHAKIS G., NITTIS K., DOUNAS C. & C. KOUTITAS, 2001. The Poseidon operational tool for the prediction of floating pollutant transport. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 43 (7-12): 270-278.
3. PETIHAKIS G., TRIANTAFYLLOU G., ALLEN J. I., HOTEIT I. & C. DOUNAS, 2002. Modelling the spatial and temporal variability of the Cretan Sea ecosystem. Journal of Marine Systems, 893: (in press).
4. ARVANITIDIS C., BELLAN G., DRAKOPOULOS P., VALAVANIS V., DOUNAS C., KOUKOURAS A. & A. ELEFTHERIOU, 2002. Seascape biodiversity patterns along the Mediterranean and the Black Sea: Lessons from the biogeography of benthic polychaetes. Marine Ecology Progress Series, (in press).
5. Koulouri P., Dounas C. & A. Eleftheriou, 2003. A new apparatus for the direct measurement of otter trawling effects on the epibenthic and hyperbenthic macrofauna. Journal of the Marine Biological Association U.K., 83: 1363-1368. (3)
6. Koulouri P., Dounas C. & A. Eleftheriou, 2005. Preliminary results on the effect of otter trawling on hyperbenthic communities in Heraklion Bay (Eastern Mediterranean, Cretan Sea). American Fisheries Society Symposium, 41: 529-537.
7. Dounas C., Davies I., Hayes P., Arvanitidis C. & P. Koulouri, 2005. The effect of different types of otter trawl groundrope on benthic nutrient fluxes and sediment biogeochemistry. American Fisheries Society Symposium, 41: 539-544.
8. Arvanitidis C., Hatzigeorgiou G., Koutsoubas D., Dounas C., Eleftheriou A. & P. Koulouri, 2005. Mediterranean lagoons revisited: weakness and efficiency of the rapid biodiversity assessment techniques in a severely fluctuating environment. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14: 2347-2359.
9. Arvanitidis C., Hatzigeorgiou G., Koutsoubas D., Kevrekidis T., Dounas C., Eleftheriou A. & P. Koulouri, 2005. Estimating lagoonal biodiversity in Greece: comparison of rapid assessment techniques. Helgoland Marine Research, 59: 177-186.
10. Manoudis G., Antoniadou C., Dounas C. and C. Chintiroglou, 2005. Successional stages of experimental artificial reefs deployed in Vistonikos gulf (N. Aegean Sea, Greece): Preliminary results. Βelgian Journal of Zoology, 135(2): 209-216.
11. Koulouri P., Dounas C., Arvanitidis C., Koutsoubas D. & A. Eleftheriou, 2006. Molluscan Diversity along a Mediterranean soft-bottom sublittoral ecotone. Scientia Marina, 70 (4): 573-583.
12. Dounas C., Davies I., Triantafyllou G., Koulouri P., Petihakis G., Arvanitidis C., Sourlatzis G. & A. Eleftheriou, 2006. Large scale impacts of bottom trawling on shelf primary productivity. Continental Shelf Research, 27: 2198-2210.
13. Dounas C., 2006. A new apparatus for the direct measurement of the effects of otter trawling on benthic nutrient releases. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 339(2): 251-259.
14. Thessalou-Legaki M., Zenetos A., Kambouroglou V., Corsini-Foka M., Kouraklis P., Dounas C. and A. Nicolaidou, 2006. The establishment of the invasive crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne Edwards1853) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) in Greek waters. Aquatic Invasions, 1 (3): 133-136.
15. Drakopoulos P.G., Chandrinos A., Dounas C., Koulouras G., Nomikos C., Poulos S., Sianoudis I., Thanos I., Zervakis V., 2007. Design and realization of an expensive transmittance and fluorescence meter: initial reporting. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Médit., 38, 139.
16. DRAKOPOULOS P.G., DOUNAS C., NOMIKOS C., POULOS S., STEFANOU E., THANOS I., ZERVAKIS V. A transmittance and fluorescence meter for environmental monitoring. Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics, Skiathos, Greece, 24-28 June, paper, 2633-2638.
17. DRAKOPOULOS P.G., CHANDRINOS A., DOUNAS C., NOMIKOS C., POULOS S., THANOS I., ZERVAKIS V. An inexpensive transmítanse and fluorescente meter. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Kos Island, Greece, 5-7 September, paper, B120-B126.
18. Evagelopoulos A., Koutsoubas D., Basset A., Pinna M., Dimitriadis C., Sangiorgio F., Barbone E., Maidanou M., Koulouri P., & C. Dounas, 2008. Spatial and seasonal variability of the macrobenthic fauna in Mediterranean solar saltworks ecosystems. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 18: S118-S134.
19. Poulos, S.E., Dounas, C.G., Alexandrakis, G., Koulouri, P. & P. Drakopoulos, 2008. Trace metal distribution in sediments of northern continental shelf of Crete Island, Eastern Mediterranean. Environmental Geology, (article in press published online, doi:10.1016/j. geomorph.2006.07.044).
20. Faulwetter S, Gotsis P, Reizopoulou S, Orfanidis S, Kevrekidis T, Nicolaidou A, Simboura N, Malea P, Dounas C, Mogias A, Valavanis V, Arvanitidis, C (2008) ElNet: The Greek biodiversity transitional waters information system. An exemplar for the development of distributed information networks in Europe. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 135–142
21. Koulouri P., Dounas C., Radin F. & A. Eleftheriou, 2009. Near-bottom zooplankton in the continental shelf and upper slope of Heraklion Bay (Crete, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean): observations on vertical distribution patterns. Journal of Plankton Research, 31 (7): 753-762.
22. Arvanitidis C, Somerfield PJ, Rumohr H, Faulwetter S, Valavanis V, Vasileiadou A, Chatzigeorgiou G, Vanden Berghe E, Vanaverbeke J, Labrune C, Grémare A, Zettler ML, Ke˛dra M, Włodarska-Kowalczuk M, Aleffi IF, Amouroux JM, Anisimova N, Bachelet G, Büntzow M, Cochrane SJ, Costello MJ, Craeymeersch J, Dahle S, Degraer S, Denisenko S, Dounas C, Duineveld G, Emblow C, Escavarage V, Fabri MC, Fleischer D, Gray JS, Heip CHR, Herrmann M, Hummel H, Janas U, Karakassis I, Kendall MA, Kingston P, Kotwicki L, Laudien L, Mackie ASY, Nevrova EL, Occhipinti-Ambrogi A, Oliver PG, Olsgard F, Palerud R, Petrov A, Rachor E, Revkov NK, Rose A, Sardá R, Sistermans WCH, Speybroeck J, Van Hoey G, Vincx M, Whomersley P, Willems W, Zenetos A (2009) Biological geography of the European seas: results from the MacroBen database. Marine Ecology Progress Series 382: 265-278.
23. Somerfield PJ, Arvanitidis C, Faulwetter S, Chatzigeorgiou G, Vasileiadou A, Amouroux JM, Anisimova N, Cochrane SJ, Craeymeersch J, Dahle S, Denisenko S, Dounas C, Duineveld G, Grémare A, Heip CHR, Herrmann M, Karakassis I, Ke˛dra M, Kendall MA, Kingston P, Kotwicki L, Labrune C, Laudien J, Nevrova EL, Nicolaidou A, Occhipinti-Ambrogi A, Palerud R, Petrov A, Rachor E, Revkov NK, Rumohr H, Sardá R, Janas U, Vanden Berghe E, Włodarska-Kowalczuk, M (2009) Assessing evidence for random assembly of marine benthic communities from regional species pools. Marine Ecology Progress Series 382: 279–286.
24. Vanden Berghe E, Claus S, Appeltans W, Faulwetter S, Arvanitidis C, Somerfield PJ, Aleffi IF, Amouroux JM, Anisimova N, Bachelet G, Cochrane SJ, Costello MJ, Craeymeersch J, Dahle S, Degraer S, Denisenko S, Dounas C, Duineveld G, Emblow C, Escaravage V, Fabri MC, Fleischer D, Grémare A, Herrmann M, Hummel H, Karakassis I, Ke˛dra M, Kendall MA, Kingston P, Kotwicki L, Labrune C, Laudien J, Nevrova EL, Occhipinti-Ambrogi A, Olsgard F, Palerud R, Petrov A, Rachor E, Revkov NK, Rumohr H, Sardá R, Sistermans WCH, Speybroeck J, Janas U, Van Hoey G, Vincx M, Whomersley P, Willems W, Włodarska-Kowalczuk M, Zenetos A, Zettler ML, Heip CHR (2009) MacroBen integrated database on benthic invertebrates of European continental shelves: a tool for large-scale analysis across Europe. Marine Ecology Progress Series 382: 225–236.
25. Renaud P. E., T. J. Webb, A. Bjørgesæter, I. Karakassis, M. Kedra, M. A. Kendall, C. Labrune, N. Lampadariou, P. J. Somerfield, M. Wlodarska-Kowalczuk, E. Vanden Berghe, S. Claus, I. F. Aleffi, J. M. Amouroux, K. H. Bryne, S. J. Cochrane, S. Dahle, S. Degraer, S. G. Denisenko, T. Deprez, C. Dounas, D. Fleischer, J. Gil, A. Grémare, U. Janas, A. S. Y. Mackie, R. Palerud, H. Rumohr, R. Sardá, J. Speybroeck, S. Taboada, G. Van Hoey, J. M. Weslawski, P. Whomersley, M. L. Zettler (2009) Continental-scale patterns in benthic invertebrate diversity: insights from the MacroBen database. Marine Ecology Progress Series 382: 239–252.
26. Webb T. J. , I. F. Aleffi, J. M. Amouroux, G. Bachelet, S. Degraer, C. Dounas, D. Fleischer, A. Grémare, M. Herrmann, H. Hummel, I. Karakassis, M. Kedra, M. A. Kendall, L. Kotwicki, C. Labrune, E. L. Nevrova, A. Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A. Petrov, N. K. Revkov, R. Sardá, N. Simboura, J. Speybroeck, G. Van Hoey, M. Vincx, P. Whomersley, W. Willems, M. Wlodarska-Kowalczuk (2009). Macroecology of the European soft sediment benthos: insights from the MacroBen database. Marine Ecology Progress Series 382: 287–296
27. Grémare A., C. Labrune, E. Vanden Berghe, J. M. Amouroux, G. Bachelet, M. L. Zettler, J. Vanaverbeke, D. Fleischer, L. Bigot, O. Maire, B. Deflandre, J. Craeymeersch, S. Degraer, C. Dounas, G. Duineveld, C. Heip, M. Herrmann, H. Hummel, I. Karakassis, M. Kedra, M. Kendall, P. Kingston, J. Laudien, A. Occhipinti-Ambrogi, E. Rachor, R. Sardá, J. Speybroeck, G. Van Hoey, M. Vincx, P. Whomersley, W. Willems, M. Wlodarska-Kowalczuk, A. Zenetos. (2009). Comparison of the performances of two biotic indices based on the MacroBen database. Marine Ecology Progress Series 382: 297–311
28. Dounas C., Koutsoubas D., Salomidi M., Koulouri P., Gerovassileiou V. & M. Sini, 2010. Distribution and Fisheries of the red coral Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Greek Seas: an overview. In: Bussoletti E., Cottingham D., Bruckner A., Roberts G. & R. Sandulli (eds), Proceedings of the International Workshop on Red Coral Science, Management, and Trade: Lessons from the Mediterranean. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-13, Silver Spring, MD 233 pp.
29. VOULTSIADOU E., ANTONIADOU C., DAILIANIS T., VAFIDIS D. & DOUNAS C., 2010. Bath sponges from a marine protected area in the Aegean Sea. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer. Médit. p. 698.
30. Voultsiadou E., Dailianis T., Antoniadou C., Vafidis D., Dounas C., Chintiroglou C.C., 2011. Aegean Bath Sponges: Historical Data and Current Status. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 19:34–51.
31. Genetic diversity of the imperilled bath sponge Spongia officinalis Linnaeus, 1759 across the Mediterranean Sea: patterns of population differentiation and implications for taxonomy and conservation. Molecular Ecology, 20(18): 3757-3772.

Patents
DOUNAS C., 2009. Illustrated guide for the identification of organisms in the field.
– Greek Patent, Industrial Property Organization (OBI), No. 1006507, 2-9-2009
– Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), publ. No.:WO 2009/144516 A1-3/December 2009. Entry into National phase before European, US and Australian Patent Offices
Dounas C. 2000. Protective – Productive Artificial Reef. Greek Patent, Industrial Property Organization, No 2000100301, 5-9-2000.
Dounas C. 1999. System for the artificial removal of rich in nutrient waters from areas close to the seabed up to the euphotic zone. Greek Patent, Industrial Property Organization, No 1003722, 13-11-2001.
Dounas C. 1999. Integrated system for the automatic implantation of metal tubes in sedimentary seabeds. Greek Patent, Industrial Property Organization, No 1003157, 21-6-1999, European Patent Application, European Patent Office, No EP 0897034.
Dounas C. & B. Lucet, 1994. A floating modular system to support oil absorbent booms that provide continuous protection for enclosed and semi-enclosed water bodies from floating hydrocarbons. Greek Patent, Industrial Property Organization, No 1001607, 31-5-1994, European Patent, European Patent Office, No EP 0707676, 13-01-1999, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), publ. No.: WO 94/29531.

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